Returned!

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Brookside 7/31/17

Hey fam--

What I love about Kentucky

-Teeth are a rare commodity 

-The Confederate flag is hoisted and people don't bat an eye.

-You can order gravy on pretty much anything at any restaurant 

-You might get invited spontaneously to join an amateur bluegrass group--they'll just hand you a guitar

-You might be in the middle of a lesson and your investigator will yell in the other room for her son to "warsh the tolet"

-Everyone calls you "baby girl" or "honey" or "sweetheart" or "ma'am"

-You will come to identify different brands of cigarettes by smell

-Everyone loves Jesus. Everyone has a testimony that God lives. Half of everyone has a story about how they almost died four times and God saved them and that's why they're still here because they have a purpose.

Here are some random funny quotes that I've collected my whole mission for your, eh especial delectation...

"Be dignified, they said. Ride a bike, they said. In a skirt, THEY SAID."-Sister Johns

-"What's your name?"

-"Lee-ab."

-"Liam?"

-"No, Leeab. L-I-B, Lee-ab."-Convo with Kentuckians

"I'm praying for you...scientific prayers." -Atheist college professor 

"Adam have kids? He doesn't have a rib, how is that possible?"-12 year old investigator

"WHOA. We're gonna get translated." -President Brough

"Our family is like a discombobulated bobble head." -Sister Dewey

"I'm saved by grace! Get off my case, prune-face!" -President Brough quoting baptists

"One can never be overdressed or overeducated. Except on Pday." -Sister Johns

Have a blessed week!

Love,

Sister Kristen Johns

Brookside 7/24/17

Dear peepsies,

Miracle story: So Bishop texted us an address of a less active lady that had just come in. Saturday, we went to find her. We entered one of the sketchiest trailer parks I've ever encountered and that's saying something! As we were walking up to the address, a woman called out to us. "Are you the Latter-Day Saint missionaries?" She invited us in, sat us down, and told us her life story. How she was baptized when she was eight but a series of events caused her to reject not just the church but God. We mostly listened. Then we invited her to come back. I asked her if she had a Book of Mormon and if she would start reading it again. She hesitated. She said, "I will try. Can you leave a copy? I don't know where mine is.." Suddenly, her young daughter ran from the back room and shoved a triple combination into her hands with a quick, "This was in the hall, mommy," before she ran outside. The woman gaped at the book in her hands, then looked at us speechless. It was a huge testimony to me of how aware God is, and how He prepares things for us so that we can have faith in Him if we recognize those tender mercies.

Funny story: We sang and played the piano with the elders at the nursing home again. One of the ladies was positively smitten with the elders. She asked Elder Moody if he had a girlfriend and he said no. I asked her if she was volunteering and she threw both arms into the air haha! Sister Mitchell and I were dying. 

Have a good week!

Sister Kristen Johns

Brookside 7/17/17

Hey all!

Firstly, it's SO HOT. 

Got offered sweet tea by a man who was drunk TWO different times. I was so hot and it was cold and it was liquid...I've never been so tempted to break the word of wisdom haha jk

We biked a lot this week for multiple reasons. One, we're trying to save miles for the month. Two, the entire mission has been challenged to find a new investigator every day, so we need to talk to more people! And three, I am SO SICK of driving all over kingdom come haha! It's been really fun. And hot. 

I dont know if I mentioned that Sister Vaughn is in my district now? It makes district meeting SO much fun. We really shouldn't sit together, we're a distraction. We call one of our zone leaders Grandpa because he's been out for over 20 months and he reminisces and remonstrates with the air of an aged soul. 

We had two lessons with our Jdub investigator! He is the most prepared human I have ever encountered. He literally just wants to find the perfect church and he's so humble about it. He came to church yesterday! Just sat there like a little sponge, soaking it all in. Poor man probably had about 30,000 questions with words and phrases being tossed around like "President Hinckley" "sealed in the temple" "baptisms for the dead" or jokes about the pre-existence. I don't think we realize how different our services are to a comprehending mind. 

We had double dinners last night, woot!! Guess what that means? The ward is warming up to us, yay! Anyways, dinner no. 1 was with a returning less active and his fiancé who is currently our investigator. They started meeting the the sisters about a month before I arrived here and they have changed SO much. They positively gushed all through dinner about how wonderful church was, the revelation they got, the spirit they felt. They are very determined to be sealed in the temple one day.

Dinner no. 2 was FHE with our returning less active family. One of the kids prayed that "Dad will come back to church and we can all be sealed in the temple soon." Melted my heart. Two of the boys expressed a desire to serve a mission. The spirit is in that home SO much more than ever before. Sister Mitchell and I were so happy!! 

Really cool experience this week: We were at the gas station and had to go in to get a receipt. On our way in we noticed a man who stepped out of his way to open the door for us. My "prepared person" alarm went off haha and on our way out we contacted him. He got really emotional and shared some hard experiences he just had like two days before. He kept saying "this is what I knew when I was a kid. I know God sent you both here at just the right time." God used us to remind one of His children of His love. It also was a reminder to me that I still have a purpose here and God still needs me to open my mouth and talk to everyone!

Have a lovely week,

Sister Kristen Johns